US5521365A - Lighting assembly for mail sorting system - Google Patents
Lighting assembly for mail sorting system Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US5521365A US5521365A US08/300,754 US30075494A US5521365A US 5521365 A US5521365 A US 5521365A US 30075494 A US30075494 A US 30075494A US 5521365 A US5521365 A US 5521365A
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- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- light
- aperture
- reader
- enclosure
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
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Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
- G06K7/00—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns
- G06K7/10—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation
- G06K7/14—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation using light without selection of wavelength, e.g. sensing reflected white light
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10S209/00—Classifying, separating, and assorting solids
- Y10S209/90—Sorting flat-type mail
Definitions
- An object of this invention is to provide a mail lighting assembly which is particularly adapted for use with a high speed mail sorting system that produces even lighting for the optical character reader and bar code reader light on creative colored, imperfect print mail so as to facilitate accurate view by an optical character reader or bar code reader.
- a further object of this invention is to provide a mail lighting assembly capable of evenly lighting multi-colored mail pieces, impact print mail pieces and other mail produced on high speed automation equipment.
- a still further object of this invention is to provide such a mail lighting assembly which is efficient in operation with minimal parts minimal removal of paper dust and minimal maintenance requirements.
- the mail lighting assembly includes a recirculating air supply, a light diffuser partition, and an enclosure compartment having one or more lights mounted on a support member.
- the re-circulating air supply prevents the heat from the lights from melting, burning or defacing the diffuser partition.
- the light diffuser partition diffuses the hot and cold spots which are produced by the light filament or bulb and produce uneven images in the optical character reader and bar code reader.
- the lights can be arranged with one or more lights facing the diffuser partition and are adjusted from side to side or from top to bottom so as to produce the desired lighting on the mail piece.
- the enclosure compartment is mounted out of the line of site of the optical character reader and bar code reader at an angle so as to direct the path of light at the mail piece and then deflect the path of light after the contact with the mail piece away from the optical character reader and bar code reader.
- the enclosure compartment also protects the assembly from foreign intervention in the light diffusion process and protects any person from receiving any unwanted light which could interfere with normal operations outside the mail sorter assembly.
- the light diffuser partition be a material such as glass so as to provide a transparent surface for the light to travel through while providing diffused mechanism for the same light and prevent the heat from the lights from melting the diffused surface.
- the lights would be halogen bulbs so as to produce a brighter and cleaner source of lighting rather than a filament light.
- the enclosure has the function of acting as a focusing apparatus for the lighting while protecting the assembly from foreign intervention in the light diffusion process and protects any person from receiving any unwanted light which could interfere with normal operations outside the mail sorter assembly.
- FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a lighting assembly in accordance with this invention incorporated in a high speed automated mail sorter system;
- FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the assembly of FIG. 1;
- FIG. 3 is a side elevational view partly broken away and in section showing the light assembly illuminating mail passing through the mail transporter;
- FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the light assembly enclosure shown in FIGS. 1-3.
- the present invention is directed to a lighting assembly, particularly designed for use with a high speed automated mail sorting system such as the 91-5 Ultrasorter optical character reader bar code sorting system.
- a high speed automated mail sorting system such as the 91-5 Ultrasorter optical character reader bar code sorting system.
- the present invention is intended to improve the rate of read of the mail sorting system of the optical character reader and bar code reader.
- the invention is also particularly useful when incorporated with the mail aperture assembly disclosed in applicant's co-pending application Ser. No. 264,906 filed Jun. 24, 1994, entitled Mail Aperture Assembly For Mail Sorting Systems, the details of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto.
- a mail aperture assembly is disclosed wherein the items of mail are deflected to present the items of mail in a better position for having the reader view the appropriate information on the items of mail.
- FIG. 1 illustrates a high speed automatic mail sorting system, such as the 91-5 Ultra sorter optical carrier bar code sorting system which includes the mail aperture assembly of the co-pending application.
- a high speed automatic mail sorting system such as the 91-5 Ultra sorter optical carrier bar code sorting system which includes the mail aperture assembly of the co-pending application.
- U.S. Pat. No. 5,226,547 the details of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto for details of a high speed automatic system.
- the mail sorting system 10 is provided with a transport assembly which includes a belt 12 disposed for contact with a run of belt 14 mounted around rollers 16, 18 and other rollers not shown. Downstream from belt 14 is a further belt 20 disposed for contacting belt 12. Belt 20 is mounted around a set of rollers including rollers 22,24. An item of mail 26 would be transported by being inserted between belts 12 and 14. The item of mail 26 would then pass through a reading station 28 which includes an aperture plate 30 of the type described in the co-pending application. Aperture plate 30 includes structure to deflect the item of mail as it passes by aperture 32. A roller 34 is provided to assure proper tension of belt 12 at the aperture 32.
- the item of mail By deflecting the item of mail at the aperture 32 the item of mail flattens at its window and plastic covering against the address and bar code information on the contents inside the envelope eliminating wrinkles and folds and preventing the optical character reader and bar code reader 36 from creating glare in the line of view of the optical character reader and bar code reader 36 on the contents inside the envelope of item of mail 26.
- the present invention provides a light assembly 38 at the reading station 28 to assure or optimize the illumination of the item of mail at the aperture 32 in a manner that effectively permits the reader 36 to properly function.
- light assembly 38 includes an enclosure 40 which is generally in the shape of a four-sided frusto pyramid having a generally flat back end 42 and a generally flat front end 44. At least one light emitter 46 is mounted within enclosure 40. Light emitter 46 is preferably a halogen light. A diffuser type partition 48 closes the open end 44 of enclosure 40.
- Enclosure 40 and its emitter 46 are mounted displaced from and at an angle to reader 36 so that the path of light 50 projected by light emitter 46 through diffuser partition 48 reaches the aperture 32 to provide sufficient illumination at the aperture so that the reader 36 may properly function.
- By displacing the enclosure 40 and its components away from reader 36 there is assurance that the enclosure and its components will provide an unobstructed line of site 52 for reader 36.
- By angling the path of light 50 there is also assurance that the light from the path of light 50 will be deflected away from reader 36 so as not to create any glare or other unwanted light or interference which would hamper the effectiveness of reader 36.
- each of the light emitters is a halogen light which produces a brighter and cleaner source of lighting than from a filament type light.
- the light diffuser partition 48 is preferably a lens made of glass or other suitable transparent material which permits the path of light 50 to travel through the partition 46 while providing a diffused mechanism for the light and preventing heat from the lamps 46 from melting the diffused surface.
- FIG. 3 illustrates a fan 54 mounted at back end 42 of enclosure 40.
- Fan 54 draws air into enclosure 40 through openings 56 in a grill as best shown in FIG. 2.
- the air is then directed toward the front end 44 of enclosure 40 which is closed by partition 48.
- the arrows in FIGS. 1 and 3 show the air circulation around the halogen lamps 46.
- the air then is exhausted through air vents 58 in the back wall 42 of enclosure 40. Cooling the halogen lamps 46 minimizes the possibility of damaging the diffusion lens or partition 48.
- the entire assembly is kept at a preferably cooler temperature.
- the halogen lamps or emitters 46 are individually adjustable to provide the best combination of light projecting through diffuser plate 48.
- FIG. 3 illustrates the manner of adjustment of the individual lamps 46.
- a pair of sockets 60 is mounted to the side walls of enclosure 40.
- a support post 62 is mounted in the sockets 60.
- Each lamp or emitter 46 is provided with a mounting block 64 which is mounted to post 62 in a manner to provide for slidable and rotation positioning of the mounting block 64. This could be accomplished in any suitable manner, such as by the provision of a set screw 66 which could be loosened so that the mounting block 64 could be rotated about post 62 and could slide longitudinally on post 62.
- Each mounting block 64 includes an L-shaped bracket 68 to which a corresponding lamp or emitter 46 is mounted. Thus, by adjusting the angular and transverse location of each mounting block 64 there is a corresponding adjustment to the position of its associated lamp 46. These sliding and rotational movements are indicated by arrows in FIG. 3.
- transverse and angular adjustments of lamps 46 there may also be longitudinal adjustment. This may be done in any suitable manner.
- additional sets of sockets similar to sockets 60, could be mounted to opposite walls of enclosure 40. All of the lamps could be moved closer or farther from partition 48 but moving the common post 62. If desired, individual lamps may be mounted on separate posts to vary the longitudinal positioning of one lamp with respect to another.
- FIG. 3 also shows how the path of light 50 projected from lamps 46 enter the aperture 32 and illuminate the information 70 on item of mail 26 so that the information can be effectively read by the reader 36.
- the illumination could be optimized by the ability to adjust the location of the individual lamps and by the ability to aim hot spots where desired in accordance with the corresponding needs of the reader 36. It is to be understood that while two lamps 46 are illustrated, any suitable number of lamps could be used including only one lamp or more than two lamps.
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- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Electromagnetism (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Toxicology (AREA)
- Artificial Intelligence (AREA)
- Computer Vision & Pattern Recognition (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
- Sorting Of Articles (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims (14)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US08/300,754 US5521365A (en) | 1994-09-06 | 1994-09-06 | Lighting assembly for mail sorting system |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US08/300,754 US5521365A (en) | 1994-09-06 | 1994-09-06 | Lighting assembly for mail sorting system |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US5521365A true US5521365A (en) | 1996-05-28 |
Family
ID=23160433
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US08/300,754 Expired - Lifetime US5521365A (en) | 1994-09-06 | 1994-09-06 | Lighting assembly for mail sorting system |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
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US (1) | US5521365A (en) |
Cited By (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6141046A (en) * | 1994-10-25 | 2000-10-31 | Roth; Stephen Anthony | Electronic camera having an illuminator with dispersing ring lens |
US6155491A (en) | 1998-05-29 | 2000-12-05 | Welch Allyn Data Collection, Inc. | Lottery game ticket processing apparatus |
US6183114B1 (en) | 1998-05-28 | 2001-02-06 | Kermit J. Cook | Halogen torchiere light |
WO2001073677A2 (en) | 2000-03-24 | 2001-10-04 | United Parcel Service Of America, Inc. | Illumination system for use in imaging moving articles |
US6523697B1 (en) | 1999-10-01 | 2003-02-25 | Tritek Technologies, Inc. | Mail processing machine drop box and method |
US6566646B1 (en) * | 1999-03-18 | 2003-05-20 | Nec Corporation | Image input apparatus for reading conveyed items using air flow cooling of illumination windows |
US6571958B1 (en) | 1999-10-01 | 2003-06-03 | Tritek Technologies, Inc. | Mail processing double separator and sensing assemblies and methods |
US20030168388A1 (en) * | 2002-02-06 | 2003-09-11 | James Malatesta | Modular document sorting apparatus and method |
US20040024716A1 (en) * | 2002-04-12 | 2004-02-05 | James Malatesta | Mail sorting processes and systems |
US6997374B2 (en) | 2001-11-29 | 2006-02-14 | Lockheed Martin Corporation | Apparatus for testing for particulate contaminants in depositories for mail-like articles |
US8162214B1 (en) | 2007-07-17 | 2012-04-24 | Tritek Technologies, Inc. | Ballot processing method and apparatus |
US11235940B2 (en) | 2016-04-28 | 2022-02-01 | Tritek Technologies, Inc. | Mail processing system and method with increased processing speed |
Citations (7)
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US2922893A (en) * | 1954-10-15 | 1960-01-26 | Philco Corp | Document identifying system |
US4546420A (en) * | 1984-05-23 | 1985-10-08 | Wheeler Industries, Ltd. | Air cooled light fixture with baffled flow through a filter array |
US4743773A (en) * | 1984-08-23 | 1988-05-10 | Nippon Electric Industry Co., Ltd. | Bar code scanner with diffusion filter and plural linear light source arrays |
US5055697A (en) * | 1990-08-24 | 1991-10-08 | Electro-Mechanical Imagineering, Inc. | Infrared radiator |
US5073954A (en) * | 1989-02-28 | 1991-12-17 | Electrocom Automation, Inc. | Bar code location and recognition processing system |
US5189528A (en) * | 1988-09-21 | 1993-02-23 | Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. | Image reading apparatus |
US5221141A (en) * | 1992-04-06 | 1993-06-22 | Lamps Plus, Inc. | Stand-alone electric lamp |
-
1994
- 1994-09-06 US US08/300,754 patent/US5521365A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2922893A (en) * | 1954-10-15 | 1960-01-26 | Philco Corp | Document identifying system |
US4546420A (en) * | 1984-05-23 | 1985-10-08 | Wheeler Industries, Ltd. | Air cooled light fixture with baffled flow through a filter array |
US4743773A (en) * | 1984-08-23 | 1988-05-10 | Nippon Electric Industry Co., Ltd. | Bar code scanner with diffusion filter and plural linear light source arrays |
US5189528A (en) * | 1988-09-21 | 1993-02-23 | Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. | Image reading apparatus |
US5073954A (en) * | 1989-02-28 | 1991-12-17 | Electrocom Automation, Inc. | Bar code location and recognition processing system |
US5055697A (en) * | 1990-08-24 | 1991-10-08 | Electro-Mechanical Imagineering, Inc. | Infrared radiator |
US5221141A (en) * | 1992-04-06 | 1993-06-22 | Lamps Plus, Inc. | Stand-alone electric lamp |
Cited By (20)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6141046A (en) * | 1994-10-25 | 2000-10-31 | Roth; Stephen Anthony | Electronic camera having an illuminator with dispersing ring lens |
US6183114B1 (en) | 1998-05-28 | 2001-02-06 | Kermit J. Cook | Halogen torchiere light |
US6155491A (en) | 1998-05-29 | 2000-12-05 | Welch Allyn Data Collection, Inc. | Lottery game ticket processing apparatus |
US6304660B1 (en) | 1998-05-29 | 2001-10-16 | Welch Allyn Data Collection, Inc. | Apparatuses for processing security documents |
US6405929B1 (en) | 1998-05-29 | 2002-06-18 | Hand Held Products, Inc. | Material detection systems for security documents |
US6566646B1 (en) * | 1999-03-18 | 2003-05-20 | Nec Corporation | Image input apparatus for reading conveyed items using air flow cooling of illumination windows |
US6523697B1 (en) | 1999-10-01 | 2003-02-25 | Tritek Technologies, Inc. | Mail processing machine drop box and method |
US6571958B1 (en) | 1999-10-01 | 2003-06-03 | Tritek Technologies, Inc. | Mail processing double separator and sensing assemblies and methods |
WO2001073677A2 (en) | 2000-03-24 | 2001-10-04 | United Parcel Service Of America, Inc. | Illumination system for use in imaging moving articles |
US6352349B1 (en) | 2000-03-24 | 2002-03-05 | United Parcel Services Of America, Inc. | Illumination system for use in imaging moving articles |
US6997374B2 (en) | 2001-11-29 | 2006-02-14 | Lockheed Martin Corporation | Apparatus for testing for particulate contaminants in depositories for mail-like articles |
US20030168388A1 (en) * | 2002-02-06 | 2003-09-11 | James Malatesta | Modular document sorting apparatus and method |
US7361861B2 (en) | 2002-02-06 | 2008-04-22 | Tritek Technologies, Inc. | Modular document sorting apparatus and method |
US20080144121A1 (en) * | 2002-02-06 | 2008-06-19 | Tritek Technologies, Inc. | Modular document sorting apparatus and method |
US7777919B2 (en) | 2002-02-06 | 2010-08-17 | Tritek Technologies, Inc. | Modular document sorting apparatus and method |
US20040024716A1 (en) * | 2002-04-12 | 2004-02-05 | James Malatesta | Mail sorting processes and systems |
US8162214B1 (en) | 2007-07-17 | 2012-04-24 | Tritek Technologies, Inc. | Ballot processing method and apparatus |
US11235940B2 (en) | 2016-04-28 | 2022-02-01 | Tritek Technologies, Inc. | Mail processing system and method with increased processing speed |
US11584601B2 (en) | 2016-04-28 | 2023-02-21 | Tritek Technologies, Inc. | Mail processing system with increased first and second pass sorting speed |
US11935318B2 (en) | 2016-04-28 | 2024-03-19 | Tritek Technologies, Inc. | Mail processing system with increased first and second pass sorting speed |
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Owner name: PROMAR, INC., DELAWARE Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:MALATESTA, JAMES;REEL/FRAME:007825/0782 Effective date: 19940829 |
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Owner name: TRITEK TECHNOLOGIES, INC., DELAWARE Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:PROMAR, INCORPORATED;REEL/FRAME:013146/0698 Effective date: 20021004 |
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